When I fitted my strut spacers, I noticed that the bearings  (Koyo 6302) on the front struts were ‘open’ (ie no shield on one side and fairly dry. I re-greased them, and reinstalled the strut assembly, pending a further strip down when I finally replace struts/spacers with Legacy outback struts

The top-hats themselves look & feel fine, and barely any rust at all.

Having checked prices of new top hats of decent quality, I opted for buying just the bearings, at considerably less cost.

Now I am wondering if they are a simple press-out press-in job to replace.

Anyone know?

thanks

Edited November 2, 20196 yr by Mitchy
Photo

There's quite a bit of metal you'll need to remove to press them out. Once replaced you'll have to figure out how you want to secure them in- some of that metal might be able to be retained and peened back over I suppose. 

Maybe bake it ? Electro-heat it ? Some freeze blast from a can on the bearing and hopefully it drops out and you tuck the new one in.

it is far easier to just replace the top hat - KYB makes these in addition to struts for Subarus and they are a great fit.

3 hours ago, heartless said:

it is far easier to just replace the top hat - KYB makes these in addition to struts for Subarus and they are a great fit.

-without a doubt, but I hate tossing decent oem stuff away.

The new strut I have are indeed KYB.

 

Obviously it cannot be pressed out upwards ( as in my photo), -I can’t remember how the mounts look from underneath, can’t one just press the bearing out (ie: downwards in the photo)?

Maybe someone a picture of a strut mount from below.....

Mine are mounted on the car now.

 

thanks

Metal retainer on the bottom.  Lots of grinding and then you'd have to weld a retainer back in to keep the bearing from coming out.  Pulled an 07 Forester struts off yesterday and checked.

On 11/20/2019 at 12:16 PM, lmdew said:

Metal retainer on the bottom.  Lots of grinding and then you'd have to weld a retainer back in to keep the bearing from coming out.  Pulled an 07 Forester struts off yesterday and checked.

Oh Balls

 

tx 

Do you have a pic?

Looks the same as your top picture.

I'm sure they press the bearing in and then bond the top and bottom half with the rubber/or whatever material it is.

OK thanks , I’ll be pulling out the suspension soon as I now have the new struts sitting on the bench....

as long as the bearing moves smoothly, it will be fine for a while longer.

if it is notchy, or grinding at all, the top hat should be replaced.